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What I learned from Special Olympics Colorado

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Contributed by: Erich Kirshner on 3/24/2008

Everything I need to know, I learned in Special Olympics Colorado....

Everyone has something to offer to others in life.
All people have a place in our lives, communities, jobs and sports. No one is indispensable.
Never underestimate someone's abilities. It's amazing what people can do!
Take time to give others because so much comes back to you and inevitably spills over on others.
No matter how different we all seem, we are really all alike inside and just want to feel loved.

For over 30 years, Reeda Thompson-Barber has been with Adams County 12 School District. She is currently a Special Education teacher at Thornton High School. In addition, she has been a volunteer for Special Olympics Colorado (SOCO) for the past 20 years.

She serves as the volunteer Area Coordinator for Adams County and is also a member of the Denver Metro Area Games Management Team. In addition, she is a coach for bowling, skiing, track, and swimming. Thompson-Barber enjoys watching and helping Special Olympics athletes learn a new sport, improve their abilities in that sport and accomplish things far beyond what they ever thought they could do.

"Special Olympics Colorado reaches everyone," she notes, "No one is left out here. In ever other thing/group/organization/job, etc., someone is eventually left out - excluded because of a million different reasons, but not with SOCO. Everyone can get involved whether they have a disability or not. As a world-wide organization, Special Olympics is one of the only things in life that doesn't care about color, sex, nationality, religion, or political affiliation. When we get together we are all one. We laugh, love, hug, compete, and shake hands. All boundaries are gone!"

Special Olympics Colorado was founded in 1969. Currently, the program touches the lives of over 8,500 Special Olympics athletes and 6,000 volunteers throughout the state. The program is divided into four sports seasons with opportunities to train and complete in nearly 20 Olympic-type sports year-round.

In addition to four state-wide competitions, more than 80 area levels competitions take place in communities throughout Colorado. Special Olympics athletes participate at no cost. All funding is provided through the generosity of individuals, corporations, foundations, service organizations and fundraising events.

For the past several years, generous Coloradoans have had the opportunity to donate financial support on their state income tax return through the Checkoff program. This year, donations can be made to SOCO on Line 36.

The money SOCO receives through the Checkoff goes to purchase equipment, uniforms and transportation services as well as training expenses and year round competitions. To learn more, please visit: www.specialolympicsco.org <

http://www.specialolympicsco.org/> . Disability is a significant issue in our state, with nearly 700,000 Coloradans impacted each year. In fact, one in five people will develop a disability in their lifetime. By checking lines 36, 41, 44 and 45 on the Colorado State Tax form, taxpayers can make an anonymous donation to one of four organizations committed to providing services to people with disabilities: Special Olympics Colorado (line 36), the Alzheimer's Association (line 41), Easter Seals (line 44) and the MS Society (line 45). Change a Life. Checkoff Colorado. For more information go to wwww.checkoffcolorado.org.

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CONTRIBUTOR INFORMATION

Erich Kirshner

Parker , CO

Erich Kirshner has posted 27 stories and 0 comments since joining on 3/16/2007. Erich Kirshner 's average story rating is 4.55.

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